Sauna
The most Finnish sauna in Sussex
We love sauna! Its not just a place to clean yourself, although it does a surprisingly good job of that, its a place to relax, unwind and let the stresses of the previous week seep out of your mind.
We will light the sauna every Saturday night for all campers to use. You can also book it it for your and your friends to enjoy privately. You can book it in advance when you make your camping booking, or you can ask us about it at Centre Camp. Do make sure you give us some notice. it takes a while to get hot!
An Englishman in the Sauna
When I married a Finnish girl, I didn’t realise I would also be marrying into Sauna Culture. Many significant moments in our lives are intertwined with the sauna, including a pre-marriage trip to the Finnish wilderness to get acquainted with my father-in-law. That experience was as cringe-inducing for an Englishman as it sounds.
I had tried saunas before meeting Katja, but I didn’t quite understand how to use them properly. I couldn’t wrap my head around sitting in a pool of my own sweat. It turns out, of course, that you don't have to! The key is to not be afraid to use plenty of water to wash away the sweat regularly. Pouring water on your head and hair helps you stay comfortable for longer. Essentially, think of it as washing with cold water in a very hot room, compared to the English tradition of using hot water in a colder room.
Another aspect I hadn’t fully appreciated is the need to slow down in the sauna. I now understand why the Finns say that all of life's important decisions are made in the sauna. It's also an excellent place for communication, even if that communication is silent and male, as it was with my father-in-law. It's easy to be your authentic self when you slow down and spend time with your loved ones.
It's important to shower or swim between sauna sessions to achieve that truly clean feeling. My perfect sauna experience involves three sessions of 10-20 minutes each, with hot and cold showers in between, finished off with a hot shower. It cleanses the mind, body, and soul.
Discussing the sauna inevitably leads to the issue of nakedness and Englishness combined. It has taken some adjustment. Many of Katja’s friends and family have thought nothing of entering the sauna while I was already inside. Adults often sit together naked in the sauna, regardless of generations. The Finns consider it unhygienic to wear swimsuits in the sauna.
We have travelled with a sauna tent in our van since we were married, and will add to that with more at Sunnyside, In our saunas, we allow users to go in clothed or naked, and they are small enough that even in public hours, you can find a session for yourself. Your modesty can be maintained as our Englishness demands.
Join us in the sauna journey, where warmth, relaxation, and connection await.